Fountain-brush.



C. A. GARVEY.

FOUNTAIN BRUSH.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.31. I910.

Patented May 9, 1916.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHRISTOPHER A. GARVEY, OF ST. LOUIS COUNTY, MISSOURI.

FOUNTAIN-BRUSH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 9, 1916.

Application filed January 31, 1916. Serial No. 75,296.

particularly adapted for use in stencil brushes and marking brushes. Prior to this invention brushes of this kind have been provided with valves for controlling the flow of ink to the brush tips, and it has been quite difficult to prevent leakage at the valves. The ink is usu lly a thin fluid, very diffieult to confine in th ink reservoir, and a high degree of accuracy has, therefore, been required in forming the valves and valve seats. Moreover, such valves and their seats are expensive, liable to get out oforder, and the valves must be operated intermittently, in accordance with the judgment of the operator, to permitthe ink to flow from the reservoir to the brush. Obviously, the ink will flow from the reservoir at irregular intervals and in irregular quantities, and consequently the' brush will be over-saturated at times and too dry at other times.

Therefore, an object of the invention is to produce a fountain brush consisting of an ink reservoir and a few simple elements associated therewith in such a manner that the ink will flow substantially continuously from the reservoir to replace the ink discharged at the brush tip while the brush is 'in service. The parts may be so adjusted that the desired flow of ink will be facilitated by the jarring action to which the brush is subjected when in use, and if desired the flow of ink may be accelerated by a. slight throw of the brush. The device is so constructed that the last mentioned action will not over-saturate the brush.

A most important object of the present invention is to produce a brush of this kind having a highly efficient means for regulating the flow of ink from the reservoir to the brush. The new device preferably includes a body of absorbent packing material for retarding the flow of ink from the reser-' voir, and an adjusting device for compacting and loosening this material so as to regulate the flow of ink. To insure the desired results the body of packing material is preferably expansible and it may be either expanded or contracted by operating the adjusting device. The rate of flow of the ink may be in creased by expanding the body of packing material through which the ink must flow in passing to the brush, and the flow may be retarded by compressing this packing material. The packing material may be lambs wool, or other material possessing inherent elastic qualities; or the elasticity may be.

obtainedby securing the mass of material to an expansible spring, the object being to regulate the flow of ink by expanding and contracting the packing material.

With the foregoing and other objects in view the invention comprises the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more specifically described and illustrated in the accompanying drawingswherein is shown the preferred embodiment of the invention; however, it is to be understood that the invention comprehendschanges, variations and modifications which come within the scope of the claim hereunto appended.

Figure I is a side elevation, partly in section, illustrating a fountainbrush embodying the features of my invention. Fig. II

is a horizontal section on line II-II, Fig. I

I. Fig. III is a horizontal section on line IIIIII, Fig. I. Fig. IV is a horizontal section on line IVIV, Fig. I. Fig. V is an enlarged fragmentary view showing the expansible body of packing material whereby the flow of ink is retarded.

A designates an ink reservoir, closed at its upper end and provided with a screw threaded lower end adapted to receive a brush holder B. A brush C is provided at its upper end with a threaded ring 1, the latter being screwed into the lower end of the brush holder B.

ldesignates a gasket located between the brush holder and the top of the brush. A discharge passageway 2, formed in the brush holder B, constitutes a packing chamber, and the ink must flow through this packing chamber in flowing from the reservoir to the brush. The upper portion of the discharge passageway is preferably contracted, as shown in Fig. I.

3 designates a screen arranged above the discharge passageway and secured by means of a threaded ring 4.

The adjustable means, for retarding the flow of ink to the brush preferably comprises a body of uhsorhentpacking material such for an nn gle us linnbs Wool or other i niuterizih and an adjusting plug 6 screwed into the ink passageway at a point helow said packing material. This adjusting ,lug is preferably provided with a pas ,szigewny 7 through which the ink passes in flowing from the reservoir to the brush. Since the ink must also flow through the pet iiniteriiil it will be apparent that the rate of flow may be regulated by compiloting or loos ning: said material, and this may be accomplished by adjusting the screw plug 6. The brush may be readily removed from the brush holder to expose the plug A, notch 8 fornied in the lower end oi' the plug 6* adapted to receive a screwdriver. I

The packing nniteriul 5 must expand and in respon e to movements of the 'l g plug ('3, and to insure the most detults this horly of material should. to exgmnd and contract uniformly rrmghout, instead of her 'iernianently (-oinpaeted at some points or permanently comp! ssed in the ink 'iiissag ewey. A body of elastic and ahsorluaut material, such as lemhs Wool, will expand. and contract freely respon to the? adjustand l have found d iraim? means for from the reserhody of packing .4 :ierre tern; of the inion inclml nix expimsihle spiral spring arranged in the pheking chamber, the 4! fibrous packing material being secured to said expunsible spring, as shown in Fig. V. By lDlZBI'WESiLVlXlg the QXPilIlSlblfi spring and packing material I produce an expansible material, the llow of 'ink is not rapid, the

rate of Hon being just sufficient to keep the brush saturated at the uint where it en gages the article to he marked. 1 have found in p'aetice that the parking material may be adjusted to prevent the ink from dripping from the brush when the device is laid horizontally on its side. If desired, the pueking nay be so adjusted that the movei'nents to which the ln'ush is subject-ed in service will cause the ink to how constantly through the compressed packing nurteriui: or. if preferred, this packing material may he so adjusted that it :ill be neressary to shake or jar the brush occasionally to obtein the desired flow. it will be apparent that the rate of flow may be regulated very sireurzitely by adjusting the plug 6.

in i: fountain brush a liquid. reservoir. a body of puekin unite inl for urding the lion of liquid from suid reservoir. an ex-- pensible spring to whi i said body of packing material is seemed, said body of packing; lll-iiiPlllll being; adapted to expand and contrnct with said swing. and means for adjusting said spring and peeking material to regulate the flow of liquid from said reservoir.

CHRESiOPllEi A. GARVEY. 

